The softening property/casualty market. The property/casualty market continued to soften, with Kroll Bond Rating Agency forecasting last month that the industry will only break even in 2016 with a 100% combined ratio.

Brexit. Insurers in the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States face what appears to be an extended period of uncertainty after the U.K.’s vote to leave the European Union in June.

Cyber hacking. Cyber hacking continued to plague businesses, with ransomware gaining more prominence as a recent popular tool among the array used by criminal hackers, as businesses, law enforcement and regulators continued to try to keep one step ahead of the bad guys.

The stalled DOL overtime rule. The U.S. Department of Labor’s planned overtime rule, which would have doubled the threshold below which workers can receive overtime, may have endured a lethal blow when a Texas judge issued a temporary injunction halting its planned Dec. 1 implementation, followed by the election of Donald Trump, whose administration is expected to oppose the rule.

U.S. Supreme Court vacancy. Justice Antonin Scalia’s February death left the high court one man short and led to some 4-4 rulings, but that vacancy is expected to be filled with a pro-business judge nominated by President-elect Trump.

Transgender rights. North Carolina’s controversial bathroom laws have promoted litigation and spurred federal agencies to speak out about transgender rights, while putting public entities and most employers at risk of violating the state and federal laws.